Yang Hengjun, who has spent more than four years in detention – one year longer than Cheng Lei – has always maintained his innocence to charges of espionage.
Melbourne journalist Cheng Lei’s release has given hope to loved ones that they too may return.The prime minister will visit Beijing and meet with President Xi Jinping by the end of the year.
Yang’s supporters had hoped for a deal that would have seen both Yang and Cheng arrive back in Australia at the same time, but now fear he will“I’m very happy that the Australian government secured the release of Cheng Lei,” said Feng. “It showed to us that there is no legal obstacle to release Yang Hengjun.”
The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court said on Wednesday night that Cheng was “coaxed by personnel from an overseas agency”, violated the confidentiality clause signed with her employer and “illegally provided the state secrets she mastered at work to the overseas agency through her mobile phone”. The court did not provide any more detail about the specific incidents.
“It’s a political case. The law is actually a very convenient tool for Chinese authorities to target anyone,” said Feng. “But Yang is also practical. If he needs to admit to the charges he can do it as a pre-condition to release. It’s the easy path.”
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